Mackinac College (Humbard)

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Mackinac College (Humbard)
Active 1971 (1971)–1973 (1973)
Chairman Rex Humbard
Location Mackinac Island, Michigan, United States
Coordinates: 45°51′05″N 84°36′20″W / 45.851391°N 84.605424°W / 45.851391; -84.605424

Mackinac College at the Rex Humbard Development Center was a United States 4-yr coeducational undergrad college founded in 1971 on Mackinac Island, Michigan. The school began offering courses in humanities, physical sciences, and social sciences in September 1972 and stressed Christian teachings. The college closed in June 1973 due to financial problems.

In April 1971, a corporation run by Cathedral of Tomorrow evangelist Rex Humbard purchased a 32-acre educational-recreational property on Mackinac Island in Michigan for $2.2 million ($13,000,000 in today's dollars).[1] The property had been the site of 'Stonecliffe' resort, a college president's mansion, and a college that closed in 1970.[1] In purchasing the property, the Cathedral board planed to turn it into a college combined with a Christian retreat and recreation resort.[1] The board named the land the Rex Humbard Development Center, named the college Mackinac College, and added skiing, swimming, tennis, and golf resort amenities.[1] The Cathedral development later would inspire Heritage USA,[1] a Christian theme park, water park, and residential complex built in Fort Mill, South Carolina, in 1978 by PTL Club (short for "Praise The Lord") founders televangelist Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye Bakker Messner.

During its operation, Mackinac College loaned $450,000 to the resort to build the amenities and paid $1.6 million to the Cathedral of Tomorrow TV program to promote the college.[1] The college additionally paid $400,000 in commissions to individuals who help the college raise money and never received back the $450,000 it loaned to the resort.[1]

Roger A. Kvam was appointed the first and only president of the college.[1] Classes began at the four-yr coeducational undergrad college in September 1972.[2] The school offered courses in humanities, physical sciences, and social sciences and divided these three divisions into eighteen departments.[2] Due to financial problems and lawsuits filed by the Ohio Department of Commerce and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Mackinac College at the Rex Humbard Development Center was closed in June 1973 at the end of the school year.[1] The college property subsequently was turned into a hotel, Mission Point Resort.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Laura Haferd (January 9, 1991), "As Tower Goes Up, Finances Unravel Trouble Nips At New Empire", Akron Beacon Journal: A1, retrieved January 31, 2014 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Preacher to Open Michigan College; Mackinac Takes New Form Under Rex Humbard", New York Times, December 5, 1971: 117, retrieved January 31, 2014 
  3. ↑ Porter, Phil (1998-08). Mackinac: an island famous in these regions. Mackinac State Historic Parks. ISBN 9780911872699. Retrieved 31 January 2014. 

External links

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